1748-1826 Lawyer And Public Official

Early Years.

Luther Martin was one of nine children of Benjamin and Hannah Martin. The date of his birth is generally believed to be 20 February 1748. Luther worked on his father's farm in New Jersey until 1760, when he was sent away to attend the grammar school at Princeton in preparation for his attendance at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Luther set out for Maryland when he graduated in 1766 and began a brief career as a schoolteacher. In April 1767 he was appointed schoolmaster of Queen Anne's County Free School, with an annual salary of twenty pounds.

Law Student.

Martin began to study the law while he was teaching school, reading most evenings in the library of a benefactor and neighbor, Solomon Wright. In 1770 Martin left his position as schoolmaster to study law full-time as an apprentice to Samuel Wilson at...